Micro-geothermal

[B Sager]

Micro-geothermal is an entirely new power source.  Demonstration projects are needed.  Regulations and royalties developed for geothermal source are not appropriate for micro-geothermal. 

We need a commitment to put a portion of the current revenue from geothermal royalties into advancing improved geothermal technologies.  A portion goes to the state; some of that should be made available for matching funds to attract federal dollars for demonstration projects. A portion goes to OHA; some of that should be available to support planning for the direct use of advanced technologies on Hawaiian Homelands.  A portion goes to the county; some of that should be available to streamline the permitting process, including helping with environmental reviews. 

The state needs to allow a portion of the barrel tax to come through for investment in renewable energy demonstration projects. These will create jobs and ensure that mature technologies come to the market, which will drive down the cost to the consumer. 

Finally, the state needs to do an assessment of what the cable will cost versus other alternatives. For $1B, we could put PowerTubes on each island, in a shorter amount of time with less damage to neighbor islands.

[B Sager]

HECO has published a request for information asking people submit proposals for development of geothermal power on the Big Island.  I submitted the following testimony:

I am unalterable opposed to geothermal technology unless the stench and adverse health effects of hydrogen sulfide gas can be eliminated from any surrounding residences, the brine and associated pollutants can be safely disposed of and high-quality native forests are not damaged in the siting process.

Now we have the technology that overcomes all those problems. It is called micro-geothermal and it is a completely self-contained system which taps the heat of the earth. You simply drill a hole in the ground deep enough to reach the hot interior of the earth. In some areas that might be 7500 feet, but in Hawaii we can reach adequate temperatures at a much shallower level.

The facility does not have to be sited on a rift zone. The power plant has a small surface foot print and can be located near the community it serves. It can be scaled to produce power from 1 to 10 MW. It does not produce any pollution. Because it is close to the community it serves it eliminates the need for a complex power grid.

We need to demonstrate the viability of this technology in Hawaii. It can potentially eliminate the need for an inter-island power cable with all its adverse impacts on our neighbor islands.

I urge you to test the viability of the system in Hawaii and created a demonstration project. This technology is a viable, pollution free way to tap the earths energy.

This technology is simple and has been thoroughly tested. It is ready to install in Hawaii. It can be installed much cheaper than an inter-island power grid and its associated massive wind farms.

I've enclosed information about this technology and you can find out more by clicking here.

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I intend to discuss this subject at the Environmental Caucus Steering Committee Mtg Wed evening 6/27.  I will be looking for Caucus support for similar testimony.

[Nelson Ho]

Thanks Bill, I definitely support Moku Power having access and proving it can be cleaner and more beneficial than traditional means. Nelson

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Nelson Ho
198 Hoku St.
Hilo, HI 96720